When to plant peas in Wisconsin

Peas
Sow outdoors in Milwaukee
Mar 15–Mar 29

Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 8 and March 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Milwaukee
Mar 15–Mar 29
Fall planting, Milwaukee
Aug 9–Aug 23
Last frost, Milwaukee
Apr 26

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Peas handle frost. The usual mistake is sowing too late and losing the crop to summer heat.

Peas planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
MilwaukeeMar 15–Mar 29
MadisonMar 20–Apr 3
Green BayMar 26–Apr 9
KenoshaMar 17–Mar 31
RacineMar 9–Mar 23
AppletonMar 23–Apr 6
Eau ClaireMar 13–Mar 27
WaukeshaMar 20–Apr 3
OshkoshMar 13–Mar 27
JanesvilleMar 15–Mar 29
West AllisMar 15–Mar 29
La CrosseMar 16–Mar 30
SheboyganMar 14–Mar 28
WauwatosaMar 15–Mar 29
Fond du LacMar 16–Mar 30
BrookfieldMar 19–Apr 2
Menomonee FallsMar 25–Apr 8
WausauMar 25–Apr 8
New BerlinMar 22–Apr 5
Sun PrairieMar 20–Apr 3
Oak CreekMar 11–Mar 25
GreenfieldMar 22–Apr 5
FranklinMar 22–Apr 5
BeloitMar 20–Apr 3
ManitowocMar 19–Apr 2
FitchburgMar 20–Apr 3
West BendMar 20–Apr 3
Mount PleasantMar 9–Mar 23
NeenahMar 23–Apr 6
SuperiorMar 25–Apr 8
All 43 cities
CitySow outdoorsFall plantingLast frost
MilwaukeeMar 15 to Mar 29Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 26
MadisonMar 20 to Apr 3Jul 31 to Aug 14May 1
Green BayMar 26 to Apr 9Jul 31 to Aug 14May 7
KenoshaMar 17 to Mar 31Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 28
RacineMar 9 to Mar 23Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 20
AppletonMar 23 to Apr 6Jul 28 to Aug 11May 4
Eau ClaireMar 13 to Mar 27Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 24
WaukeshaMar 20 to Apr 3Aug 4 to Aug 18May 1
OshkoshMar 13 to Mar 27Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 24
JanesvilleMar 15 to Mar 29Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 26
West AllisMar 15 to Mar 29Aug 13 to Aug 27Apr 26
La CrosseMar 16 to Mar 30Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 27
SheboyganMar 14 to Mar 28Aug 14 to Aug 28Apr 25
WauwatosaMar 15 to Mar 29Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 26
Fond du LacMar 16 to Mar 30Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 27
BrookfieldMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 30
Menomonee FallsMar 25 to Apr 8Jul 30 to Aug 13May 6
WausauMar 25 to Apr 8Jul 26 to Aug 9May 6
New BerlinMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
Sun PrairieMar 20 to Apr 3Aug 1 to Aug 15May 1
Oak CreekMar 11 to Mar 25Aug 17 to Aug 31Apr 22
GreenfieldMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
FranklinMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
BeloitMar 20 to Apr 3Aug 3 to Aug 17May 1
ManitowocMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 11 to Aug 25Apr 30
FitchburgMar 20 to Apr 3Jul 31 to Aug 14May 1
West BendMar 20 to Apr 3Aug 3 to Aug 17May 1
Mount PleasantMar 9 to Mar 23Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 20
NeenahMar 23 to Apr 6Jul 28 to Aug 11May 4
SuperiorMar 25 to Apr 8Jul 31 to Aug 14May 6
Stevens PointMar 23 to Apr 6Jul 29 to Aug 12May 4
MuskegoMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 5 to Aug 19May 3
De PereMar 19 to Apr 2Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 30
CaledoniaMar 13 to Mar 27Aug 15 to Aug 29Apr 24
MequonMar 25 to Apr 8Jul 30 to Aug 13May 6
MiddletonMar 17 to Mar 31Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 28
WatertownMar 17 to Mar 31Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 28
HowardMar 26 to Apr 9Jul 31 to Aug 14May 7
Pleasant PrairieMar 8 to Mar 22Aug 17 to Aug 31Apr 19
GermantownMar 25 to Apr 8Jul 30 to Aug 13May 6
OnalaskaMar 12 to Mar 26Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 23
South MilwaukeeMar 11 to Mar 25Aug 17 to Aug 31Apr 22
OconomowocMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 30

Questions

When should I plant peas in Wisconsin?

In Milwaukee, sow outdoors from March 15 to March 29. Across Wisconsin the window opens between March 8 and March 26, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 8–10 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Wisconsin

Peas in other states

Frost dates for every city in Wisconsin